Stamping



April 1934- w. FRIEDRICHS I 1,954,694

In venfor;

April 1934- w. FRIEDRICHS 1,954,694

STAMPING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINE Filed June 5. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

April 10, 1934. w. FRlEDRlCHS STAMPING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINE Filed June 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NN/ Q W 3 w km W2? A? a w Inventor:

April 10, 1934. w. FRIEDRICHS STAMPING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINE Filed June 5, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lli Inve tor.-

Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES STAMPING, PRINTING, AND SIMILAR MACHINE Wilhelm Friedrichs, Reinickendorf-Ost, near Berlin, Germany Application June 5, 1929, Serial No. 368,700 In Germany June 11, 1928 9 Claims.

This invention has reference to stamping, cancelling devices and the like provided with printing and locking counting mechanism, serving in particular as value adding mechanism and with an unlocking member preferably in the form of a slide. In accordance with this invention the unlocking member is adapted to be detached from the machine and carries a writing or recording strip provided with stepwise operating transferring means and upon which the indications of the value adding means may be recorded automatically, when the device is in the unlocking condition. The printing of the result of the transferred indications of a counting mechanism upon a web or piece of cardboard or the like arranged upon a slide is known.

By means of the arrangement according to this invention it becomes possible among other important advantages to watch and to control the different payments to be made for the several stamping or cancelling operations by merely submitting to the authorities the unlocking member with the recording strip provided therein and the controlling strip containing the individual cancellations or records, provided the several cancellations which have been carried out by the machine in the otherwise well known manner are moreover individually recorded upon a continuous additional strip. Special means have to be provided for accomplishing the controlling of the payments particularly in the case of the unlocking member being constructed, as otherwise known, according to the type of a single or multiple setting lock or the like, even without the employment of the controlling strip for the individual cancellations above referred to. The device according to this invention may, for instance, be constructed in such a manner that paper transferring rollers for the winding and unwinding of the strip of paper and the like are mounted in the interior of a casing or the like provided with openings for the passage of the type carriers actuated by the sum adding means. The feeding of the strip for the registration of the momentary indication of the counting mechanism may be effected by means of the actuation of the lock. The casing or the like which contains the controlling strip may be sealed by a suitable seal together with a plate adapted to cover the insertion opening for the key which is retained by the controlling authorities. In connection with the invention it may be of advantage to combine the unlocking member with a counting disk adapted to be operated in the forward direction by means of the key of the authorities while it is operated in the reverse direction by the key of the customer or the public, said disk being moreover provided with means for preventing rotation beyond the zero position and beyond the maximum position. By means of this counting disk it becomes possible for the customer to note and to be reminded in time, when the predetermined supply of locking operations effected in the multiple setting locks will have been consumed, so as to enable him to provide sufficiently in time for a new supply of previously set locking operations. The counting disk referred to or the arresting of the counting mechanism for unlocking operations will obviate the possibility of operation by mistake or by unauthorized persons. In order to prevent an improper use or careless operation of the unlocking and printing means the machine, if provided with the device according to this invention, may be constructed in such a manner that by the insertion of the unlocking member the printing means become unlocked for one rotation. At the same time the printing means is moved again into the proper position in which it is in readiness for the next operation, and the means of disengaging the locking mechanism for the machine are also moved into the operative position by the actuation of the printing means, while the locking of the machine, which is effected by the operation of the counting mechanism for values becomes released only by the unlocking operation of the customers key above referred to. With this end in view the locking member of the machine may be connected by positive means with a pawl or the like which, in the inoperative position of the machine-locking member, becomes engaged with a recess of a regulating disk mounted upon the operating shaft of the printing means, die or the like. As a result of this arrangement the unlocking operation can only be 9 carried out after the completion of a full rotation of the operating shaft of the stamping means, die or the like. In addition thereto the rotation of the customer key may be prevented by one or several pawls or the like provided in the machine until the die or stamping means have assumed the arresting or locking position while the means for effecting the unlocking has been moved into a position ready for the unlocking operation. By this means the useless operation of the locking key of the customer is prevented.

The member for effecting the unlocking operation is preferably introduced into a casing or the like adapted to be rocked by the stamping shaft and provided with openings for the insertion of the type wheels and for the passage of the controlling or regulating levers cooperating with the unlocking member, in order to simplify the stamping operation and the stamping means themselves. In case this box or casing should be closed on all sides with the exception of the insertion opening for the unlocking member, so

as to present for instance a continuous wall from one end of the casing to the other, it will eliminate the possibility of any unauthorized tampering with the gearing of the machine, which would otherwise become possible through the insertion opening after the unlocking member has been removed.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings showing by way of exemplication an embodiment of the principles of the invention. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine with the hood or casing covering the gearing removed. for the sake of clearness of illustration and with the omission of the setting mechanism;'Fig. 1a is a front view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1II-III of Fig. 1. In Fig. 4 the unlock- -ing member which is furnished with the strip for recording the indications of the counting mechanism is shown in elevation, its encasing means being shown in section. Fig. 4a shows asectional elevation on an enlarged. scale, the

end of the unlocking member with the customers lock. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line V- V of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4, and Fig. '7 a cross-section 0n the line VII-VII of Fig. 4. In Fig. 8 the key is shown which is to be kept by the authorities.

Only those parts of the machine which are of importance for the understanding thereof and of the invention are shown in the drawings.

Upon the base plate or foundation 1 of the machine the vertical bearing plates 2, 3 and 4 are arranged. In these plates the different machine shafts are journalled including the shaft 4 upon which the stamping roller 5 is mounted, a shaft 6 for releasing the locking of the stamping means of the machine and for printing the indications of the counting mechanism and with the locking shaft 7 carrying the locking and arresting levers hereinafter to be particularly described. Upon the foundation 1 the casing 8 of the counting mechanism is also secured with its vertical side walls 9 and 1c. The counter counts or adds the stamped values and. is operated-in the known manner. In these side walls the shaft 11 is journalled to which the casing or 00x12 is rockingly connected. The front wall of this box or casing 12 is opposite to an opening in the bearing plate 4 so as to provide an aperture or recess 13 through which the unlocking member shown in Fig. 4 may be inserted into the box or casing 12. This casing 12 is provided with a recess 15 above which the type wheels 16 are arranged which are driven by the counting mechanism constructed as usual as 'Value adding mechanism, so that upon the rocking of the casing 12 the type wheels 16 can become engaged with the recess 15. The casing 12 is moreover provided with the arms 1'7 upon which cams or projections 18 of the shaft 6 may actuate during the rotation of the shaft 6, so as to produce the rocking movement of the casing 12. Through an opening or a recess 19 of the casing 12 projects the end of a lever 20. which is rockingly journalled upon a suitable support secured to the base plate or foundation and the other end 20a of which cooperates with the looking cam 22 mounted upon the shaft 6.

By the insertion of the unlocking member 14 into the casing 12 the lever 20 which is engaged in the casing 12 is forced out from the casing by means of a projection 14a on the end of the member 14 and its arm 20a is thereby moved out of the path of movement of the lock g cam 22. The particular construction and configuration of 'the unlocking member shown in Fig. 4 will be more particularly described hereinafter. It may however be mentioned in this connection that the rollers 24, 25 are rotatably journalled in the cover or box 23. Upon the roller 25 the paper roll 26 is disposed. The end of the web or strip of paper is wound up by the shaft 24 which is to berotated by means of the key control means hereinafter described. The cover or box wall 23 is provided with openings 28 for the passage of the type wheels 16 opposite the support 27. Between these type wheels 16 and the strip of paper a slide or the like 29, acting as colour carrying means is arranged, as appears from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The counting mechanism for values is operative in effecting the rotation of a cam disk 31'by means of the intermediate wheels 30 and in such a manner that the cam disk 31 is moved through a full rotation during one period of operation, provided the cam disk is fitted with one cam or projection 31a only, as shown in the exemplification of the drawings. After the termination of the period of operation, that is to say after the previously paid for amount of money has been used up, the cam 31a will rock the lever 32 on'its rotating pivot 33. As a result thereof the other arm 34 of the lever 32 becomes disengaged from the lever 35, so that this lever 35 (Fig. 3) which is keyed to the shaft '7 becomes free to be moved in the anticlockwise direction together with the shaft 7 and to rotate this shaft 7 by the action of the spring36 (Fig. 2) which is also acting upon the lever 37 secured to the shaft 7. This lever 37 carries a tappet or a stud 38 which upon the rotation of the shaft 7 will rock the pawl 39 which is rotatably secured to the shaft 7 and move this pawl likewise in the anticlockwise direction, so that the pawl 39 becomes disengaged from the notch or recess 4 of the disk 41. With the arm 39a of the pawl 39 another pawl 43 is positively connected by means of t e link rod 42. This pawl '43 by means of the rocking of the pawl 39 is caused to engage the recess 44 of the disk 45. Owing to the pawl 43 engaging in the disk 45, the rotation of the latter is prevented. It is either rigidly connected to the stamping roller 5 or controls a coupling for the operation of the stamping rollers so that by locking the disk 45, either the stamping roller is locked or uncoupled from its operating mechanism.

After the parts have assumed the positions referred to, the shaft 6 may be rotated in the ciockwise direction by means of a manually operated crank mounted upon the end of the shaft and not shown in the drawings. Rotation in the opposite direction is prevented by means of a look ing wheel or the like not shown. Upon the rotation of the shaft 6 the cam or projection 18 raises the arms 1'7 of the casing 12, so that this casing is rocked in the, direction of the type wheels 16, and the types of these type wheels which are in the printing position, will now be enabled to produce an impression upon the strips I of paper 260. of the unlocking member. .Moreover, upon the rotation of the shaft 6 the cam or the like 46 secured thereto rocks the lever 47 which is mounted upon the shaft '7 in the clockwise direction out of the position shown by dotted lines into the position shown by full lines, and by this means the lever 35 secured to the shaft '7 and the lever 37 are likewise rocked clockwise, while the spring 36 is tensioned. The lever 37150 is connected by the spring 48 to the arm 39a of the lever 39, thereby causing the spring 48 to be tensioned, so as to impart thereto the tendency of rocking the lever 39 likewise in the clockwise direction. Inasmuch, however, as by the anticlockwise movement of the lever 39 hereinbefore described the pawl 49 by the action of the spring 50 has placed itself with its shoulder 49a right in front of the arm 39b of the lever 39, said lever 39 is prevented at that time from following the pulling action of the spring.

After the completion of a full rotation of the shaft 6 the cam 51 which is mounted upon the shaft 6 becomes engaged with the hook or projection of a pawl 52 rockably secured to the shaft 7 and forced against the stopping pin 54 of the lever 35 by the action of the spring 53. In case the operator should try to arrest the pawl 39 and the locking members connected thereto by a clockwise pressure exerted upon the crank of the shaft 6 in the moment of the indication of the end of an operating period by the value adding mechanism, so as to prevent the locking of the machine at the proper time, this attempt would be prevented by the pawl 52. The lever 39 engages with a certain play with the recess 40 of the disk 41, so that, when the shaft is rotated towards the right, the pawl 52 will become engaged with the cam 51, before the projection of the lever 39 will become engaged with the walls of the recess 40. Inasmuch as the pawl 52 is connected to the lever 35 not by positive means, but by power action of the spring 53, the lever 35 and the shaft 7 with the locking members controlled thereby are free to be rocked in spite of the pressure produced upon the crank, as above referred to, so that the locking of the mechanism may be effected.

By means of the series of operations hereinbefore described the unlocking condition has been prepared with the simultaneous stamping or recording of the indications of the counting mechanism, but not yet completed because the lever 39b is prevented by the projection 49a of the lever 49 from rocking back into the position of rest. Consequently, the pawl 43 connected to the lever 39 is still in engagement with the disk 45. The unlocking is completed by a rotation of the cam 63 of the lock 55. This latter rotation is effected by means of the customer key arranged on the unlocking member 14 the particular construction and arrangement of which will be described further on.

The rotations of the lock 55as hereinafter described-are registered and to be paid and in order to prevent the lock being prematurely and ineffectually operated, the lock is locked until the completion of all preparatory unlocking operations by the pawls 64, 59 which cooperate with the locking tooth 62. During the locking of the stamping means, the lever 65 also participated in the rotation of the shaft 7 on the left. It rocked by means of the pin 65a the pawl 64 anticlockwise against the action of the spring 66 so that the pawl became engaged with the locking tooth 62 of the lock 55. The pawl 59, which was previously in engagement with the locking tooth 62, was raised during the locking operation against the action of the spring 58 in that the lever 49, 56, whose pin 60 cooperates with the pawl 59, rocked clockwise under the action of the spring 50 during the locking operation. This rocking became possible because the end 39b of the lever 39 descended below the projection 49a of the lever 49. By the clockwise rotation of the shaft 3 7 following the locking of the stamping means, the lever was then rocked in the same direction so that the pawl 64 was again brought out of engagement with the locking tooth 62. The lock is free for operation after the rotation of the shaft 6 or 7 on the right. During the clockwise rotation of the lock shaft 61 which is mounted on a lug of the casing 12 and swingable therewith, as shown in Fig. 2, the cam 63 of said shaft rocks the arm 56 and consequently also the arm 49 in the clockwise direction, so that projecting part 49a of the lever 49 becomes disengaged from the arm 39b, so that by the action of the spring 48 the lever 39 will be rocked clockwise and will become engaged with the recess 40 of the disk 41. This will cause the link member 42 to be displaced downwards, so that the locking pawl 43 becomes disengaged from the looking disk 45. The rocking of the arm 56 causes the release of the arm 59, so that this arm will be forced downwards by the action of the spring 58 and will be moved into the path of the cam 62 of the lock shaft 61. By this means further rotation of this shaft is prevented, until the next locking position is reached. The operation of the machine lock 55 is effected by the lock 55' provided in the unlocking member 14. This is again prepared for a certain number of locking operations by a key 67 (Fig. 8) in posession of the post-office authorities or the like. In the casing 68 of this post-office key, the key shaft 69 is rotatably journalled. Its rotation is prevented, until the sleeve 72 axially displaceable within the sleeve 71 which is rigidly secured to the casing 68, has been forced back against the action of the spring 73 by the operation of a sleeve (Fig. 4), secured to the corresponding lock. As a result thereof the stud 74 which is provided within the sleeve 72 becomes disengaged from a groove in the shaft on the key, so that the key may be rotated. These rotations are transmitted to a counting mechanism 76 by means of the intermediate wheels '75. The shaft 69 is secured against backward rotation by a device not shown in the drawings. In a similar manner the rotation of the sleeve 71 with the entire casing 68 upon the sleeve 70 is prevented by projections (not shown) and cam shape of the sleeve 71 or the like if the key 67 is inserted in the customers lock 55'. When the sleeve 71 is placed over the shaft 70 of the customer's lock, it is possible to rotate by the rotation of the shaft 69 the locking shaft 77 which is connected to the shaft 70. The locking shaft 77 by means of the tooth 78 will feed the gear wheel 79 forward for the amount of one tooth upon each rotation of the shaft. The pawl 80 which is under the action of the spring 81 secures the gear wheel '79 against being thrown forward too far. Upon the shaft 82 of the gear wheel 79 the counting disk 83 (Fig. 7) is rigidly secured the graduation of which in the exemplification herein described shows the figures from 0 to 9. As long as there are no rotations of the key, the figure 0 becomes visible in an opening or a window 84 of the lock casing. The other figures are disclosed so as to correspond to the number of turns of the key. After nine rotations of the lock shaft 77 a projection 85 impinges against the stop 86, so as to prevent any further forward movement. In this position a stud 87 secured to the gear wheel 79 (Fig. 6) is moved into the path of a cam or projection 88 disposed upon the lock shaft 77, so that after the completion of a rotation effecting the ninth locking operation this look shaft becomes arrested and is prevented from carrying out any possible further partial rotation. Thus, in the position shown in the drawings the key 67 of the postal or other authorities has set the customers lock 55' for say nineoperating periods. These periods may now be released by the operation of the customers key 89. The oustomers lock in its locking operation will operate the lock 55 of the machine heretofore referred to. The lock shaft 61 of the latter is provided for this purpose with recesses which conform to corresponding projections on the front side of the customers key 89. The lock shaft 61 projects freely from the customers lock 55 so that the bushing 100 provided on the removable member 14 may be moved over the said lock shaft. As the lock shaft is moved into the bushing 100, a second bushing 182 which is slidably mounted in the bushing 100, will be moved back against the action of the spring 101 until the front side of the lock shaft comes in contact with the front side of the key 89 and the projections and recesses of these respective parts effect a coupling thereof. A pin 103 is screwed through the slidable bushing 102 and engages at its inner end in a corresponding slot 104 in the customers key 89 and extends at its upper end into a slot 105 of the bushing 100 thereby preventing the keyturning while the bushing 102 is in the left hand position as shown in Fig. 4a. However, owing to the backward movement of the bushing 102, the lower end of the pin 103 is brought out of engagement with the slot in the key 89 so that the latter can then freely rotate and the shaft 61 can rotate therewith. Upon each rotation of the customers key 89 the cam 90. provided upon the customers key will feed the gear wheel '79 backward through the distance of one tooth. As soon as the gear wheel 79 and simultaneously therewith the counting disk 33 have been moved into the zero-position as a result of these releasing operations, the cam 85 (Fig. 7) is moved in front of the cam 91 disposed on the customers key, so that further rotations of the customers key are prevented. The locking operations produced by the customers key are registered by a rotating counting mechanism 92 which is connected by the gear wheels 93a and 92a to the customers key 89. Upon the customers key 89 the gear wheel 93 is secured which upon each rotation of the customers key 89 effects the feeding forward of the intermediate wheels 94 loosely arranged upon the shaft 82 and of a gear wheel 95 rigidly connected to the paper roller 24 and of this paper roller 24 itself.

The rollers 24, 25 with the strip or web of paper 26a are covered up by a hood 23. This hood is placedfrom the left over the unlocking member 14 in Fig. 4 and is secured in position by a seal 97 together with a cover 96 which covers up the insertion opening for the ofiicial key 68, the said opening being contained in the front wall of the number 14, so that both the insertion opening as well as the strips of paper are only accessible to the officials, after the seal has been detached.

The operation of the machine may be reviewed as follows:-

The values to be stamped, for instance 150, are set with the levers a of the sprocket wheels b (Figs. 1c and 2). The gear wheels 0 secured to the levers a transmit through the gear wheels at the setting to the type mounted in the printing member 5. The shaft 6 participate with the sprocket wheels b in the rotation of the gear shaft 4 carrying the printing member 5 because the said shaft e is connected to the shaft 4 through the gear wheels 1 and g. The teeth 70 of the sprocket wheels I) operate through the rotation over the gear wheels h i on the totalizer 16. On the totalizer 16 reaching the value, for instance, 100, corresponding to the working period of the machine, the cam' 31a (Figs. 3 and 1), which participates in the rotations of the totalizer over the intermediate wheels 30, will rock the lever 32, 34 clockwise. The lever 34 is thus brought out of engagement with the'lever 35 secured to the shaft 7, the said lever 35 rocking anticlockwise under the action of the spring 36 (Fig. 2). The pawl 52 (Fig. 3) the lever 4'7} the pawl 39 (Fig. 2) and the lever 65 also participate in the said rocking movement. Owing to its rocking movement, the lever 65 brings the lever 64 into the path of the cam'62 of the machine lock shaft 61. The pawl 39 moves out of the recess 40 of the disk 41 secured to the shaft 6 and locks the driving shaft 4 tirough the medium of the rod 42 by the pawl 43, which enters the recess 44. The arm 39b of the pawl 39 also releases the lever 49, 56 which makes an anticlockwise rotation under the action of the spring and thereby brings the lever 59 out of the path of the cam 62 of the machine lock shaft 61. The pawl 52 (Fig. 3) moves out of the path of the cam 51 of the shaft 6. The driving shaft 4 is now locked by the pawl 43 and the machine lock shaft 61 is locked by the lever 64 while the shaft 6 is unlocked provided that the unlocking member 14 (Fig. 1) is in the casing 12 so that the member 14 has rocked the lever 20a out of the path of the cam 22 of the shaft 6.

The resulting unlocking of the gear shaft is divided into two parts. The final unlocking is made ready or prepared by a rotation of the shaft 6.

During the rotation of the shaft 6, the casing 12 with the unlocking member 14 contained therein is rocked by the cams 18 against the totalizer 16 whereby the impression is made on the strip 26a (Fig. 5). shaft, the lever 47 in conjunction with the levers (Fig. 2) 35 (Fig. 3) and 52 is rocked clockwise by the cam 46 (Fig. 3) The lever 65 again releases the lever 64 (Fig. 2) which is rocked by the spring 66 out of the path of the cam 62 of the machine lock shaft 61. During the rocking movement of the lever 35 (Fig. 3), the lever 32, 34 is also retracted by its spring to its original position. It bears against the lever 35 and secures the latter and also the rock shaft '7 in the position of rest. The lever 52 has again moved into the path of the cam 51 of the shaft 6 so that a further rotation beyond a complete revolution is not possible. The pawl 39 (Fig. 2) did not participate in the return movement of the shaft 7 because the arm 39h was still in engagement with the projection 49:; of the lever 39. After this operation, the driving shaft 4' is still locked, the shaft 6 is prevented by lever 52 from further rotation and the machine lock shaft 61 is released by the levers 59 and 64.

The final unlocking now takes place through a rotation of the machine lock shaft 61 which is effected by means of the customers key 89 (Figs. 4 and 4a). During the rotation of the machine lock shaft 61 (Fig. 2) the cam 63 rocks the lever 56, 49 clockwise so that it releases the lever 39?) and the pawl 39 together with the pawl 43 are rocked by the spring 48. The pawl 39 again enters the disk 41 of the shaft 6 and the pawl 43 On the further rotation of the;

moves out of the disk 45 of the driving shaft 4 so that the driving mechanism of the machine is unlocked. During the rocking movement of the lever 56, the lever 59 has again been rocked by the spring 58 into the path of the cam 62 of the machine lock shaft 61 so that only one rotation can be efiected with the key 89. After this unlocking operation the driving shaft is unlocked and the shaft 6 is locked by the pawl 39 and the machine lock shaft 61 is locked by the lever 59. The machine is again prepared for a new working period.

After all preliminary lockings are used up by several, for instance, nine unlocking operations in the customers lock 55', the unlocking member 14 is removed from the machine and taken to the controlling authorities, for instance, the postofiice authorities in order that the latter may again make the preliminary lockings by means of the ofiicial key shown in Figure 8.

It is obvious that the removal of the unlocking member 14 and the preliminary locking may also be effected before the originally effected preliminary lockings are completely used up.

1. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, locking means for the machine, a removable member to unlock the locking means, the unlocking member having a recording strip mounted therein for receiving impressions from the counting mechanism, means to lock the machine when the counting mechanism attains a predetermined value, and key control means carried by the unlocking member for releasing the second mentioned locking means.

2. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, locking means for the machine, a removable member to unlock the locking means, the unlocking member having a recording strip mounted therein for receiving impressions from the counting mechanism, means to lock the machine when the counting mechanism attains a predetermined value, and key control means carried by the unlocking member for releasing the second mentioned locking means, and a second key control means for variably limiting the number of operations of the first mentioned key control means.

3. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, locking means for the machine, a removable member to unlock the locking means, the unlocking member having a recording strip mounted therein for receiving impressions from the counting mechanism, means to lock the machine when the counting mechanism attains a predetermined value, and key control means carried by the unlocking member for releasing the second mentioned locking means, and means actuated by the key control means for shifting the recording strip at each actuation of the key control means.

4. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, locking means for the machine, a removable member to unlock the locking means, the unlocking member having a recording strip mounted therein for receiving impressions from the counting mechanism, means to lock the machine when the counting mechanism attains a predetermined value, and key control means carried by the unlocking member for releasing the second mentioned locking means, and a second key control means for variably limiting the number of operations of the first mentioned key control means, the second key control means including a keyway, and means for sealing said keyway.

5. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, locking means for the machine, a removable member to unlock the locking means, the unlocking member having a recording strip mounted therein for receiving impressions from the counting mechanism, means to lock the machine when the counting mechanism attains a predetermined value, and key control means carried by the unlocking member for releasing the second mentioned locking means, and a second key control means for variably limiting the number of operations of the first mentioned key control means, indicating means operated by the second key control means automatically set by the cnicial key in adjusting the machine for predetermined periods of operation of the counting mechanism, said. indicating means being operated by the first mentioned key control means at each successive operation of the latter.

6. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, locking means for the machine, a removable member to unlock the locking means, the unlocking member having a recording strip mounted therein for receiving impressions from the counting mechanism, means to lock the machine when the counting mechanism attains a predetermined value, and key control means carried by the unlocking member for releasing the second mentioned locking means, and a second key control means for variably limiting the number of operations of the first mentioned key control means, indicating means operated by the second key control means automatically set by the ofiicial key in adjusting the machine for predetermined periods of operation of the counting mechanism, said indicating means being operated by the first mentioned key control means at each successive operation of the latter, and means for preventing the indicating means from being moved past its maximum value indicating position.

7. In a machine of the character described, a counting mechanism, having type elements locking means for the machine, controlled by said mechanism a removable member, a rotary key in the removable member for unlocking the looking means, a counter controlling the revolutions of the key, and means in the removable member for supporting a recording strip in position to receive an impression from said type elements.

8. In a machine of the character described, a

counting mechanism, having type elements locking means for the machine, controlled by said mechanism a removable member, a rotary key in the removable member for unlocking the locking means, a counter controlling the revolutions of the key, and means in the removable member for a supporting a recording strip in position to receive an impression from said type elements, and means connecting said key with the supporting means for the recording strip whereby the latter is moved step by step.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 33, characterized by the fact that the preliminary part of the machine unlocking movement is derived from power driven elements of the machine and the key in the removable member merely completes the unlocking movement.

WILHELM FRIEDRICHS. 

